Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro. I do not own anything in regards to their creation; I have Takahiro to thank for that. Nevertheless, the story plot and the OCs that do appear are of my ownership.

Author's Notes: Surprisingly, I managed to get this chapter done earlier than expected so here I am with the newest chapter of Akame ga Kill: Fate's Second Chance. I suppose the reason I'm early this time is because I was motivated by the number of favorites. It finally surpassed 100! So yes, I'll like to give a big thank you to those who favored the story.

Although my schedule has become quite compacted recently, publishing this chapter early means that I can dedicate some more time to the chapter 13 which would hopefully conclude the battles between Night Raid and the Imperial Police. Until then, I suppose this chapter will also end in a cliffhanger.

And of course, a special thank you to Wacko12 and Commonwealth for reviewing the last chapter.

Wacko12: Hmm, that's an assumption to make. Well, I did leave Yukio's status vague last chapter, so I guess that is to be expected. Anyhow, this chapter should give you the answer, so I won't include my response here.

Commonwealth: Thank you for your long and thoughtful review. I'm glad that you liked the fights and character development. Don't worry, I'm not too fond of Mary Sue or Gary Stu myself, so I am definitely putting in the effort to ensure that Yukio, as well as the other casts, get enough character development but won't succeed perfection in the process. Oh, and just to say, I don't learn torture techniques from Esdeath… but cliffhangers do seem to be something that I enjoy, heh.

Anyway, please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors, especially in terms of the language (spelling, grammar, etc.).

With all that said, I now present chapter 12.

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Chapter 12—Kill the Absolute Justice

"Amid that limited number of encounters.

We were drawn together, tied by a thread.

Even on dark nights and stormy mornings.

You were the only thing that was real.

Now I'm going to open the door of this trauma.

I'm sure my eyes even show a little hope."

-Taiyou no Hana (Destiny)

Location: In the Capital (Eastern Region). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 67).

Coro emitted a suppressed howl as it was engulfed by Pumpkin's firepower. The blast ripped through its fleshy tissues like butter melting under intense heat. It did not budge from its spot though; there was only one motive for its endurance, and that was to protect its master at all cost.

With gravity at work, Mine found ground in a crouching stance and involuntarily narrowed her eyes at the smoke that obscured the giant beast. A lone sweat trickled down, her body's natural reflex upon witnessing the Teigu's unfailing regenerative ability. She had just inflicted massive damage to the biological weapon, and it was already recovering as if the punctuated holes in its body were nothing more than mosquito bites.

"Damn it," cursed Mine. "It's already regenerating… What energy…"

Seryu cracked up in laughter as she watched the blood-stained holes on her Teigu's body reform. "Don't underestimate the durability of my Imperial Arms. Coro will not stop until we've delivered justice!"

Wrapped up in her conceited moment, Seryu was unaware that Sheele was moving towards her. The purple-haired assassin sprint at full throttle, with her scissors readied.

"Imperial Arms are tools. It'll stop once its user is killed," Sheele mumbled to herself. Mine was keeping Coro at bay, and so she had to utilize the opportunity. 'I'll get her with my secret move.'

"Extase!" Inexplicably, there was no name for Sheele's trump card, nor was it considered powerful compared to the other Teigu. Indeed, its only predominant feature was that it had a rather flashy move. The scissors emanated a blinding light that indirectly served more than one purpose. But right now, Sheele only needed to blind her foe. She had long discarded the notion that other people would notice; backup was already coming regardless.

'Light-generating metal? How can such a move exist?' Seryu shielded herself with her arms, but that wasn't enough to prevent the sudden expulsion of violet light from depriving her sight.

"This is the end," Sheele declared. Stabbing her foe with strength equivalent to a red-hot hammer striking down on iron, Sheele was determined to breach through the defense the woman had created with her Tonfa Guns. At pursue to hit the opponent who continuously tried to push her back, the assassin was mildly amazed by the policewoman's strength when Extase failed to bypass Seryu's counterstrikes. 'She's strong. But I have to end this now.'

…

The sound of metals colliding alerted Coro. Losing interest in its previous prey, it turned towards the more intimidating threat, namely Sheele. It got no more than a few feet before a flash of yellow trailed after it, penetrating its side. Letting out a pained growl, its head rotated to the right and absorbed the petite form of a pink-haired girl with its enraged eyes.

"Tsk-tsk. Uh-uh. You're not going anywhere." Pumpkin was still hoisted for another shot as Mine successfully recaptured the beast's attention. The sniper was determined to do anything she could to divert its attention, not in favor of the Teigu aiding its master. "You should never turn your back on an opponent. Ha, you're so poorly trained that it's not even funny anymore."

Coro's throat emitted a deep rumble.

'As the threat lessens, Pumpkin's power weakens. But it's enough to keep it busy. This is my job; Pumpkin can deal with this ugly thing. Besides…' The unpleasant image of Yukio's discouraging look had turned Mine's smirk upside down. The young man once asked to evaluate her Teigu, and seeing as he knew more about the ancient relics than any other Night Raider, Mine permitted him to examine it. However, he openly commented that Pumpkin was incompetent for a sniper since its true power originated from pinches. A sniper's role was to ambush the opponents rather than be ambushed herself, so Yukio was adamant in trying to get her a replacement. 'Tsk, you have no idea what I'm capable of with Pumpkin equipped. I'll show you how a genius sniper operates. I don't need another damn weapon! I can blast you and this thing to the moon if I want to!'

"Come at me, ugly!" she challenged, beckoning Coro to come at her.

Coro gave a low threatening snarl. Steams emitted from its nostrils as it hurled itself at Mine, tearing down the path like a stampeding bull.

'Using the process of elimination, I'll figure out where its core is.' Mine steadied her racing heart and fired.

…

Nearby, the confrontation between Sheele and Seryu was breaking loose. Seryu's back found a steel fence as the momentum of Sheele's Teigu pushed her backwards. With a grunt, she back-flipped and cleared the railings. A second later, Extase cleaved right through the steel.

Taking cover in the trees, Seryu was pursued by the incessant combinations of slashes and thrusts. She grudgingly moved back, warding off her enemy with her own weapons. By now, she realized that her Tonfu guns were useless at close range. She was desperately trying to create space, but her attempts would always fall short as the assassin caught up every time. Caught in the rapid attacks, Seryu was compelled to withdraw, only to stagger as the back of her heel hit a rock. Her composure crumpled as she lost her balance. One of her guns slipped out from her grasp and instantaneously, she saw a flash of silver before her.

An agonizing scream torn through Seryu's lips as blood spewed out from her disembodied appendages. The detached limbs were flung into the air, causing a shower of red to drizzle down.

'She sacrificed her arms to stop a fatal blow.' Sheele was stunned but continued to press on. She inwardly admired her foe's tenacity, though feeling empathy was out of the option for someone in the assassin trade. Mercy was forbidden, even when her opponent was vulnerable… or so she believed. Sheele partially expected another struggle but nothing could prepare her for the retaliation. Her mauve eyes widened as two hand guns squirmed their way through the stumps of Seryu's arms. 'Oh my! It that… body modification?'

"This is the trump card Captain Ogre gave me." The mention of her mentor's name sparked flare in Seryu's eyes before her countenance distorted into what could only be described as devilish. "Justice will always prevail! Take this!"

Bang! Bang!

Two consecutive fires screeched into the night sky.

The barrels were smoking, though the modification of the body prevented the recoil. Seryu stared, open-mouthed, at the assassin who still stood before her. Her aim had been true, but the purple-haired woman managed to numbly deflect the shots with her gigantic scissors.

"This is the end." Sheele's expression was uncompromising as she looked down at Seryu, her Extase swinging in great loops above her head like a lasso. She swung, ripping the two mini guns away. Now only an inch away from the policewoman's head, Extase screeched, a melody of bereavement as its pair of metals parted and reflected the moonlight that looked awfully red.

"Coro, last resort! Berserker!" Seryu screamed out a hysterical order.

Coro's ears twitched and it registered the command. At once, newfound strength course through its every muscle as Seryu's energy was transmitted into its core via their bond. The Teigu shut its eyes and reeled its gigantic head back. Its dark pupils shrunk towards the center, its sclera encrusted with a sheet of sanguine. White glistening fangs exposed themselves from the corner of its upturned lips. Upon the last stage of its transformation, the beast's fur raised and was dyed in red, emphasizing its power with its sturdy physique. It inhaled oxygen, opened its mouth to reveal another set of teeth, and let loose a bloodcurdling howl that resonated through the Capital.

'Argh! So they have a trump card too!' Mine was nearly blown away because of her petite form. Her hands systematically covered her ears in an unproductive attempt to protect her eardrums. The piecing cry was threatening to split her head with its atrocious clamor, and at close range, she was completely rendered vulnerable. She did not even have the time to gasp before she found herself snatched up like a baseball, with unyielding claws around her body. 'Shit!'

"Mine!"

The sniper could faintly hear her name being called, but that did not make much of an impact compared to Seryu's next command.

"Coro, crash her to death!"

The biological Teigu acted while holding its captive at eye level. There was a glint of murderous intent in those bloodshot eyes as it constricted its muscles to give a squeeze. Its ears jerked in response as the bone-crashing compression forced the girl to whimper. The tiny sound caused the Teigu to emit a low rumble from the back of its throat. It squeezed harder until a sickening but satisfying snap drifted into its ears.

There were tears on Mine's cheeks as she let out a scream of pure agony. Prodigious pain that surpassed any description ripped through her right arm. She writhed out of pure desperation, but that only intensified her suffering. Mine gasped when the brutal force was suddenly stopped and she found herself being dropped. She fell, and was shielded from the ground by the furry limb that held her.

"A-argh." Mine's eyes fluttered open wearily. Her blurred vision captured Sheele's smiling face and relief washed through instantly. In favor of rescuing her, it seemed that the purple-haired assassin had abandoned her kill and arrived punctually to cleave off Coro's arm. The move was too daring to compliment, but Mine was grateful nonetheless.

"Sheele! T-thanks." It was barely above the volume of a whisper, but it was filled with a rare sense of humbleness and sincerity.

"Mine, it looks like I made it just in time!" Whether or not Sheele heard her remained as an inconsequential mystery, but Mine smiled at the older woman. Sheele returned the expression, though to Mine's horror, the smile came into view for the briefest of seconds before it was rewritten by astonishment.

Sheele's eyes widened when she heard the sound of a gunshot. A sharp pain simultaneously exploded in her chest. Crimson liquid spread from her wound and dyed her cheongsam faster than she could comprehend. 'Wh-what happened? My body won't move!'

The decision to rescue Mine was reckless, but not one that she didn't take precautions for. Sheele had ensured that Seryu was indeed left defenseless before she came sprinting for Mine. Left completely bewildered, Sheele painstakingly twisted her head to her left and gasped. The policewoman's mouth had concealed a barrel that was now emitting smoke. 'Unbelievable! She hid one there as well! How careless…'

Lying flat on her stomach, Mine felt terror pierce her bones. She could do nothing but watch helplessly as Coro advanced towards Sheele. 'Damn it! Get up, save Sheele! Get up, save her! Damn it, do something!' Her fingers moved slowly and she clawed the earth in frustration. It took every ounce of her strength to crawl forward… a few inches. No good. Mine cursed her feebleness. Was there nothing she could do?

"Sh-Sheele!" she screamed, watching Coro sank its fangs into the woman.

And then out of nowhere, a dark silhouette shot out from the covers of the trees and drove a blade into Coro's eye. On a whim, the Teigu opened its mouth and bellowed, dropping its captive in the process.

"Sheele!"

Akame extracted her katana from Coro's socket, the movement concurrent with a fountain of red. Mine's hysterical cry prompted the assassin to take action. She pushed her feet against the recoiling beast's head, using it as a trampoline to help her accelerate. Her uninjured arm stretched forth and wrapped itself around Sheele's waist. They were approaching the ground fast, so Akame abruptly twisted her body, making contact with her back first.

The red-eyed assassin let out a pained gasp when the fall aggravated her injured shoulder. However, the bloody mess of her own wound did not stop her from doing a prompt inspection of the woman on top of her. Her crimson eyes lingered on Sheele's fluttering pulse on her neck. One of her longest exhales of relief then left her lips once she realized that Sheele was still breathing. Her effort to cushion the fall paid off. She found no additional injuries on the purple-haired woman.

"Akame! Sheele!" Mine hastily climbed back onto her feet and dragged her aching body towards her comrades. With one hand clasping onto her broken arm and the other on Pumpkin, the sniper narrowed her brows at the sight of the unconscious Sheele, whose body was wrecked with gruesome lacerations and gun wounds. Biting her bottom lip, she turned to Akame and said, "Glad to see you here. We need to finish this quickly and get Sheele to safety."

"I agree," Akame nodded and set Sheele on the floor beside Mine. The red-eyed assassin then whirled her body towards Seryu, assessing her for the first time in this timeframe. Frankly, she held no grudges against the woman at present, but being the vigilant person Akame was, she would rather be safe than sorry. She couldn't afford letting Seryu go, especially not after knowing what the policewoman would have done to Sheele in her absence. With that in mind, she readied herself for the kill.

"Target acquired. I'll eliminate you!" Akame was off in a blur, the dusty grounds swirling around her feet from her sudden lunge. Her eyes darted towards Coro, who was still regenerating, to the armless Seryu. This was a certain kill. 'I'll end this with one slash.'

Clang!

Someone stopped Murasame with a broadsword. Akame's eyes flashed with irrefutable surprise as she took in the tuft of brown hair and the cowlick that seemed to sway in concordance with its owner's abrupt movement. Her gaze automatically appraised the newcomer's vigorous form and couldn't help but take a sharp intake of breath.

'Tatsumi!' She was reunited with him again... but in the worst way possible. Akame knew that Tatsumi had aligned himself with the Empire, and yet, seeing him directly as her enemy sent a jabbing pain in her heart. It hurt, a lot. A physical blow might have had a lesser impact on her. Her brain shut down and her body stiffened as if frozen by Esdeath herself.

The assassin's vacillation was all Tatsumi needed to push her back. He swiped his steel at her, which she absentmindedly, but reflectively, dodged. Tatsumi's brows knitted together. He stood defensively in front of Seryu, with two hands gripping tightly onto his blade. Not daring to take his eyes off his enemies, he quickly said, "Seryu, can you run? If you can, take Coro with you and get away. I'll finish this off."

"Tatsumi?" To the new sergeant's surprise, Seryu beamed at him before continuing. "Tatsumi, you see? One of the villains is down! I've defeated her. The light of justice will shine upon the world!"

'She's out of her mind! What's she doing?' At that, Tatsumi had to spare a fleeting glance at the policewoman who was struggling to get back up. His fine feature paled as he assessed her missing limbs, dreadfully gruesome from this particular angle. He shivered, almost apprehensively. Just what was wrong with the people in the Capital? Why do they feel the need to brutally kill each other? Discomfort gnawed Tatsumi's insides and he felt the base of his throat dry up, as if completely scorched by the sun. Despite everything, he upheld his brave frontage. This was what he had signed up for when he joined the military. He had to face the facts.

"…Look Seryu, you're badly injured. You need to run away. Don't worry; I'll take care of the rest. I won't let them get away." As if on cue, countless footsteps supported Tatsumi's words.

"Don't tell me…" Mine muttered, rotating her body forty-five degrees. Her pupils diluted and she unwittingly took a step towards Sheele upon noticing the Imperial officers storming towards them, with weapons already drawn. Usually, the sniper would be brimming with confidence, delighted by the sight of danger and reassured by Akame's presence. However, even she was not so imprudent to believe that they stood a chance as they were now. Sheele was dying, Akame was bleeding, and her own broken arm hanged floppily to the side.

"Crap! Now of all times! Akame, stop daydreaming! It's a high time to make a break for it!" Mine dismantled the front of Pumpkin's long barrel, leaving the Teigu in its base form. She felt the weight lessen and so she lifted the Teigu towards the sky with her good arm.

"You take Sheele." It sounded more like a command than a request coming from Mine.

The urgency in Mine's voice snapped Akame out of her stupor. She compellingly discarded any lingering hesitation and headed for Sheele, promptly moving her onto her back. Her eyes scanned the number of foes having already surrounded them. Being outnumbered as they were offered little escape opportunities and they were narrowed down to one option. It was going to be dangerous, but Akame decided to wager it. "Mine, do it!"

"Pumpkin, fire!" Mine roared and her finger slammed down on the trigger, sending spherical projectiles straight into the air. The shots soared like rockets until they reached their peak before plummeting down like shooting stars.

Apart from pinches, a part of Mine's strength was determined by her emotions. The more intense her emotions, the more power Pumpkin received. So even as an assassin, Mine was open with her feelings, often being straightforward to ensure the maximum firepower in battle. She was going to let her enemies taste her wrath first-handed.

Like a downpour, the energy shots scooped down on the area. Each sphere exploded in a myriad of colors on contact. They engulfed the entire region in light, leaving many blinded.

Akame sprinted, while the Imperial policemen were barely surviving the blasts. The raven-haired assassin wasn't sure if it was Mine's precision or her own evasion skills that saved her, but each shot just barely skimmed past her and Sheele as she darted through the bedlam and into the safety of the bushes. Her eyes briskly traveled from Extase on the ground to Tatsumi, who was fending off the projectiles, and she furrowed her brows before trailing Mine in a desperate endeavor to escape.

Location: In the Capital (Western Region). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 67).

A head rammed into the wall, creating a dent in the rough surface. Leone's eyes darted left. Another figure approached, silent as a mouse. A spear lunged for her exposed abdomen. Her paw shot out and she grabbed the spear's flint. The weapon bit flesh, creating a shallow cut on her hand. She ignored it. In her transformed state, her Teigu would speed up the healing.

"You know, I usually don't mind this." Leone jerked the weapon sharply upwards, knocking the man out with the spear butt in the jaws. "But we don't have time to play with you right now!"

Her words had little effort as more men leaped down from the buildings and surrounded her. Not one to be frightened by mere numbers alone, Leone prepared herself for the first impatient attacker.

Her golden-colored eyes roamed from one enemy to another until she caught a glimpse of Bulat several feet away. The Incursio's wielder was doing tremendous damage with Neuntote. Any man foolish enough to get into his striking range was sent flying by the enormous halberd.

"Leone, finish those guys off and go! I'll handle the rest," shouted Bulat as he rapidly knocked out three men in mere seconds. Although the officers were considered elites, they were little threat to the ex-Imperial soldier.

"Alright Bulat-cchi, they're all yours. But first…" The corner of Leone's mouth twisted into a playful smile as she sensed an attack. A foe had thrust his sword at her, probably thinking that she was too distracted to have noticed. Any other might have been caught oblivious, but not Leone. Her sharp eyes captured his every movement and with a side step, she completely avoided the assault. Being a seasonal fighter, it was her instinct that had her retaliating swiftly. Her legs covered the distance in an expeditious movement and she grabbed the man by the throat.

"Let me teach you a thing or two about surprise attacks!" she growled.

Elite or not, not many had the courage to stare death in the face. The man was no exception as his face was transfixed with utter terror. Leone enclosed her fingers around his neck. Before any of the other guards could react, the man let out a scream that was swallowed up by a fear-evoking sound.

Snap!

The body went limb and the man went silent.

That did it.

Fear set in and a few Imperial guards faltered. Their hesitation was all Leone needed for an opening. Knees bent, the woman gathered enough momentum to push herself into the sky. She landed on the roof's tiles with the grace of a sleek cat.

"Bulat-cchi, I'm clear."

"Then go! More reinforcement is on their way." The reply was timed perfectly with another wave of the Neuntote, and another body was hurled against a wall.

On the higher altitude, Leone was immediately assailed by a metallic smell mixed with the familiar scent of her comrades. Having memorized their scent in case of an emergency, she had no trouble identifying the injured. However, what bothered her was the unfamiliar smell that lingered in the air, extremely thick in the southern district. 'What's this? Smells like trouble… Jeez, but why does everything else, especially towards east, smell like dogs? I have a bad feeling about this.'

Leone took hasty leaps south, crossing rooftops. It had been ages since she last felt edgy, as if her animal instinct was screaming in her ears with a microphone. The urge to arrive punctually motivated her as she continued at a velocity that was beyond any human. Fortunately for her, she encountered no further obstructions, possibly because Bulat was acting as a distraction.

Before long, Leone entered the urban areas of the Capital's south. Feet now on concrete instead of tiles, she scanned the vicinity and her eyes locked onto two figures. The sight hit her hard, freezing the blood in her veins as she stood motionless.

The first figure on the ground was undoubtedly Zank. Leone gave a cautious whiff, and relaxed a little. The stench of death was heavy on the man, so strong that she was left in no doubt that he had died just recently.

The blonde's gaze then swept a few feet to the right. Occupying that part of her vision was another unconscious person, his upper body marred by blood. His bangs shielded his face, and the young man, who Leone had come to adore like a little brother, was not moving.

"Yukio-kun!" Leone wasted no time and was instantly by his side. Crouching down to check the injuries, she was staggered by the amount of blood Yukio had lost. A look at the bandages around him told her that someone had tried to dress his wounds beforehand, but for whatever reasons, left the job unfinished.

Having been reliant on Lionelle's ability, Leone knew little about first aid and for once, she regretted not learning from Dr. Takito. Still, she was not the type to give up trying. At this rate, Yukio would be dead within half an hour. Carefully, she pressed both paws on a wound, hoping to reduce the flow. Her action did nothing to stop the blood and a small frown appeared on her countenance. 'This isn't normal,' she thought. Usually, the platelets in the body would have started to clog the blood by now. 'He smells different too… It's like something happened and made his blood flow faster than the average human's. That's why it's spilling everywhere! Jeez, just what the hell is going on!?'

"Ugh, stop p-pressing… It h-hurts…"

Leone's ears perked up at the sound of Yukio's moan. She had to suppress a shout of glee as she watched his eyelids flutter open. The young man blinked twice and licked his dried lips. "W-who's there?"

"Yukio-kun! You're awake. Get it together! W-wait, what's… wrong with you?" The dullness in his eyes told Leone that something was terribly wrong with Yukio. His usually bright emeralds had darkened to resemble bottomless holes, deprived of any light. Realization came to her; Yukio could not see. "Yukio-kun, don't worry. It's me, nee-san. I'm here now so you'll be just fine. Tell me what happened here. Where's Akame? Why isn't she with you?"

"Gone… need help… go…"

"Wait, what? What's gone? Who needs help and go where?" Leone forced herself to remain calm. Yukio's utterance was broken and the woman was in no mood to play guessing games. Based on the fact that the young man was alone, she fathomed that there was an emergency. However, with little information, she couldn't decide on her next course of action. More or less desperate, she attempted another method. Although unconvinced that it was the best approach, she reached forward and grabbed his shoulders. She shook him back and forth, hoping to get some sort of reply. "Come on, Yukio-kun. I need you to stay with me! Hang in there."

"…Grab Hirasaki… m-mother's Teigu… useful…"

Another mumble but Leone understood more this time. Her mind took her back in time and she recalled when Yukio introduced the necklace Teigu, Angel's Revival: Hirasaki. Normally, Leone would have forgotten about a harmless-looking weapon like that, but the ludicrous design had left enough impression on her for her to remember.

'Hirasaki… That's the Imperial Arms with healing powers, right? So he wants me to grab it and heal his wounds? Can it do that?' Still unsure of the details, Leone sought for verification, only to find that Yukio was out cold again. It was tempting to shake him again, but she did not want to risk it. Anymore more aggressive movement would only cause more pain for the young man, whose brows were creased despite being unconscious.

'Might as well get the old man to patch him up first… Jeez, just what in the world is going on! I hope the others are in a better state than Yukio-kun here.' Cradling the young man in her arms, Leone took off in the direction of Dr. Takito's abode, only having to stop once to salvage Zank's Teigu and Yukio's scattered belongings.

Location: In the Capital (Eastern Region). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 67).

"Come on, faster! Dr. Takito's house is just through here!" Mine called out, sweat marring her brows. The sniper darted through the forest grounds as she took the lead, crashing into branches while her shoes left small imprints into the dry soil. Shoving away a leafy offshoot with her good arm, she passed a discreet glance at Akame, who was just keeping up behind her. Any other times, Mine would hve raised an eyebrow in astonishment. How the wounded Akame could still travel at this speed while carrying Sheele on her back was a confronting mystery.

The sounds of branches cracking and leaves swishing echoed through the woods as the two assassins stumbled through the thick undergrowth. The night had its eyes on them, shrouding them in complete darkness.

"Keep going Mine, they're coming." As a rule, Akame would never charge blindly into areas that she was unfamiliar with. A misstep was common in a forest especially, even if the area was relatively smaller. If not for Mine escorting at front, the red-eyed assassin would never have dared to travel with such abruptness, even more so since she was carrying Sheele around.

Akame could feel it, the stickiness that spread across her back and trickle down onto the grass. The scent of blood overwhelmed her other senses. With Sheele's head slumped on her uninjured shoulder, Akame's eyes moved to her left and verified her comrade's state. The woman's eyes were squeezed shut in pain and her breathing was shallow and irregular, as though it would disappear with the next breeze.

"They're there!"

"Just a little more!"

Akame gritted her teeth when she heard their persuaders. Although sounds traveled in all directions, the trained assassin could tell that they were gaining up on them. With the obvious trail that they had left behind, it was easy for the Imperial police officers to track them down with their dogs.

"Tsk, and here I thought I've fried them all. Akame, get Sheele out of here. I'll buy you some time." Finding herself partly responsible for this predicament, Mine slowed down and kept her pace matched with Akame's.

"I refuse. You're not staying alone." Akame shook her head. In spite of everything, she did not want to give consent. It was the best solution in their situation but her conscience spurned the notion. The memory of leaving Yukio behind was fresh, so the idea of repeating the same mistake was unthinkable. She did not travel through time just to leave her comrades to their fate; she was here to change destiny! Anticipating the willful Mine to retort, she emphasized, "Together we stand a greater chance of returning alive."

"Why don't you just admit that my way is our best option here? Tsk, you're being way mushier than—" Mine's expression turned into a scowl and she opened her mouth to counter. She was stopped short when several shadows burst out from their surroundings and encircled them. The sniper skidded to an abrupt halt, frustrated that they had just wasted a valuable chance to escape.

Amongst all determined faces, a teen of perhaps her age predominantly caught Mine's attention as he stepped forward from the crowd. It was the same person who had managed to stop Akame's attack. With the very same broadsword that had clashed with Murasame in one hand, he lifted it so that the tip was pointed at them.

"No one's going anywhere today! Night Raid, I'll arrest every last one of you. Just surrender quietly, and things won't have to get ugly. I'll even get a doctor for your friend." After managing to protect himself and Seryu from the insane bombardment, Tatsumi assured Seryu that he would chase after Night Raid as he was reluctant to let the policewoman pursue the enemy in her injured state. Even so, Tatsumi himself did not want the confrontation to escalate into a battle royale. He was determined to avoid casualties, even going as far as trying to convince the assassins to lay down their arms.

"What a load of crap," Mine muttered under her breath.

Tatsumi bristled at the remark.

Since the Night Raiders offered no gesticulation that suggested their submission, three restless guards advanced towards them, intending to incapacitate the remaining two members.

"Shit. We just blew our chance. Guess we'll just have to bite the bullet." Her arm was still throbbing and rather useless, but that did not stop Mine from standing her ground in front of Akame, who could not even unsheathe her katana with Sheele on her back. 'It looks like it's one against a lot.'

"Hang on. I'm coming!"

The sturdy armored figure of Bulat descended timely from the sky and with a swing, brought his halberd down on the closest officer. Still airborne, he then pivoted his leg and hooked it down on another officer. Simultaneously, he raised Neuntote again and cut through the last man's protective gear, sending the body flying backwards.

"Bulat!" Breathing out to release the accumulated tension, Mine's feature was graced with a smile.

"Looks like I just made it. I thought you guys ran into trouble when I saw those bizarre explosions in the park. Good to see that you're all alive. I'll take over now." As if reading Mine's thoughts, Bulat offered her a reassuring thumbs-up. He then turned to his enemies and brandished Neuntote in a series of express movement, flicking away the blood that had stained his halberd. "Now, come at me!"

"The Demon Armor: Incursio, you must be Night Raid's Bulat." At least one good thing came from spending time researching with Hidou, Tatsumi thought drily. He was now stocked with information about every known member of Night Raid.

"You may call me Handsome," came the somewhat husky reply from under the helmet.

'He's weird, but strong. There's no doubt about that…' The new sergeant guided his focus on the newcomer. Beads of sweat dripped down his chin and his muscles tensed from anxiety. From the abrupt attack that fended off three men with ease, Tatsumi had every reason to suspect that this new fighter was immensely powerful, even to the point of surreal potency. 'He isn't someone I can defeat in my current state… but I can't worry about that. If I can't prevent a single organization from slaughtering innocents, how can I save an entire village?'

Tatsumi took a deep breath and moved into his standard fighting stance. "Don't let impatience dominate. Keep your cool." WithMamoru's rare advice ringing caution in his ears, he assessed his opponent as they both stood unmoving. To launch an attack recklessly was a fatal error. With the space between them, he would be left exposed if he was to draw near. Unwilling to risk it, his gaze jumped from each assassin to the next. From Tatsumi's standpoint, all they needed to do was wait. In order to prevent their critically wounded member from dying, the killers were bound to make a move sooner or later. 'And that's when we'll strike. Even if the records state that they are powerful… there can't go anywhere if they are surrounded and outnumbered!'

The neighboring area was locked in a perfervid standoff as many unsuspectingly gulped. The tension was amplifying in magnitudes, and both sides knew that fortitude would be the key. Not a soul dared to speak. Even the winds stopped their whispers, leaving the trees to observe the standoff, hushed.

Evaluating what she could only describe as a crisis on hand, Akame was beginning to think that she was on a streak of bad luck. Why? Of all potential enemies sent their way, it just had to be Tatsumi. Her heart thumped in her chest, almost pleading for a miracle. She did not wish to clash swords with Tatsumi. The memories of their time together as comrades were too vivid and she once again found herself deep in conflict. Compelling herself to stay calm, she took several steadying breaths and prioritized herself on devising a plan. This was not the time for reservation; Sheele was in dying need of medical treatment.

Akame took a caution step closer towards Bulat, all the while ensuring that her body would provide a shield for Sheele for any sneak attack. In one slow but deliberate movement, she entrusted the unconscious woman to Bulat. Even though the Man-Slayer's feature was undistinguishable behind his helmet, Akame could have swore that she saw the man's eyebrow go up in confusion as he carried Sheele bridal-styled.

"Bulat, take Mine and Sheele away from here. I'll catch up," she ordered.

"Akame, you're being a stupid hypocrite here! Didn't you just—" Mine's protest jammed in her throat when Akame gave her an unyielding stare. With a look that prohibited any possible rebuttals, the sniper knew better than to argue back. The red-eyed assassin could be obstinate at times, to the extent that even Mine could not compete with. Consigning a reluctant victory to the other girl, the petite sniper obeyed and took to the nearest branch.

"You better come back alive and well, Akame. We'll be waiting." Her tone was forceful, breaching to the point of being demanding.

"Mm-hmm," Akame nodded.

Used to receiving orders from their sub-leader, Bulat left without any objections. In his opinion, it was better this way; unlike the smaller Akame, Sheele's weight meant little to his strapping body. He leaped onto the same branch as Mine, grunting when he noticed two guards immediately soaring after him. He disregarded them, trusting Akame with his unguarded back as he hopped onto the next offshoot.

Akame did not let him down.

The moment their feet landed on the branch, Akame charged in and cut off that part of the tree, causing both Imperial policemen to nose-dive into the soil.

"They're getting away. Apprehend them!" shouted Tatsumi with a slicing motion of his arm.

Screams resonated a second after that command. Straight away, Tatsumi regretted his order as the policemen furthest away from him collapsed onto the floor, their bodies now infiltrated by curse-like markings. His eyes captured the one responsible, who was now standing beside the corpses. The assassin had slain them with ease. Just a millisecond ago, Tatsumi saw an indistinct form rushing towards the moving men and before he knew it, they were lifeless. Advance and slice. She must have killed them in a heartbeat. 'She's even faster than what's written on the records! Are Hidou's data outdated?'

"You are not assigned targets. There's no need to kill you." With her katana poised to ward off any strikes, Akame stated icily and shot a daunting glare at the remaining Imperial guards who have yet to move. "But take one more step and I will eliminate you."

The indescribable mass of killing intent emitting from her was indeed fearsome. Tatsumi's insides screamed danger, knowing that this particular assassin was remorseless. The urge to back away from her was strong, but he stood firm. If he was to be intimidated by her, then the morale of his division was sure to decline. "We can't just give up! We're taking you in!"

"Eliminate." The single word drove Akame into motion. But rather than aiming for Tatsumi as the others had expected, she chose another target. A wave of her arm and the guard dog was beheaded, stunning all but one into a state of immobility.

"Shit!" Comprehending her intention a moment afterwards, Tatsumi pounced on the girl. He had been relying on the hound to find the other assassins. But now, with the dog dead, it was impossible to track them down by scent. The assassin was very mindful, Tatsumi had to grudgingly admit; she was determined to end their search here. 'Well screw that. I'll just have to take her down then. I'll get her to tell me where their hideout is!' With that in mind, he raised his blade and swung down on her sword arm.

With the cutting edge descending on her, Akame dodged by taking two rapid sidesteps to the right. Another three steps back were compulsory as Tatsumi persisted in his assault.

"Form a circle! Make sure she doesn't get away. I'll take her on and weaken her!" Deciding that this would limit the body count, Tatsumi's orbs flared with a sense of purpose as he once again closed in on the retreating assassin. He swiped for her legs. She dodged it. The second lunge came close as strands of raven hair were cut off. The third, the fourth, and the fifth were near misses. With each arm movement, his attacks grew rapid until they were becoming difficult to see with a naked eye.

Eventually, Tatsumi's blows became so unpredictable that it was impossible to simply avoid them. Left without any alternatives, Akame lifted Murasame to meet his sword halfway. They clashed in a heated battle of strength and startlingly, Akame found Tatsumi to be stronger than she had anticipated. The teen had power, that much was certain; but even so, his skill exceeded his original-self from the other timeline. 'He must have been training hard... yet I am no easy prey either.'Akame broke contact and withdrew but was forced to move forward again when spears nearly impaled her back.

Her crimson orbs reassessed the surrounding and she realized with a grim note that the area was shrinking in size while she was dueling. Not only had the Imperial policemen trap her inside their man-made circle, they moved in every now and then, reducing her space little by little with weapons jabbing out. At this rate, it would not be long before she ran out of places to dodge.

But that became the last of her concerns as Tatsumi charged again. Her instincts took over and she promptly headed for the skies. She rotated her feet, planted her boot into Tatsumi's back, and pushed, upsetting the boy's balance. Call it an impulse or an instinctive response to the threat, but Akame went for the kill as he whirled around.

"Crap!"His back was exposed to Akame. Tatsumi spun one-eighty degrees and twirled his blade around. He could feel the air just above him being sliced by the assassin's katana. Everything ran in slow motion. There was no way his sword would make it on time; he could not block it! 'I'm done for!'

"…!" More startled by her own action than the unwanted fear on Tatsumi's face, Akame managed to pull back mere seconds before her katana could nick skin. Her arm twisted a sharp right and the steel scraped Tatsumi's arm guard instead. The hand that held Murasame flinched while Tatsumi's blade continued its course. Catching on, Akame leapt back but was a fraction too late as the metal scratched her.

Keeping three paces away from Tatsumi, the red-eyed assassin left enough room between them and inspected the cut. Droplets of red dribbled down onto her coat though fortunately, the wound itself was not too deep. Her fingers around Murasame's hilt flexed, ensuring that the injury would not obstruct her.

With one hand gripping onto his sword, Tatsumi's other hand made for his upper torso as he fisted the tan material of his sweater vest. His heart jumped in his throat. That was way too close for comfort; he thought he was finished. Although curious as to why the katana had altered its route, he could not be more thankful that it only hit his protective gear. 'Ichizan Hissatsu: Murasame, the enchanted blade that instantly kills all with its incurable poison. Just one mistake and I'm a goner. That was just a onetime luck; I can't let my guard down.'

"Give up, you're surrounded and hurt. You don't stand a chance; just throw in the towel already," said Tatsumi, somehow maintaining an unruffled exterior. Inwardly though, he was averse in continuing the fight. Already, he was straining to hide his weariness. The unrelenting attacks earlier wore him out. He would not last long in another clash with the assassin, who although suffered injuries, showed ample determination in her eyes; she was not completely done yet. And if not for the blood sweeping out from her wounds, and the rapid rising and falling of her chest, Tatsumi would have been convinced that she was still in top form.

"Now, tell me something. Have you or your group met two teens from the country recently, one boy and one girl?" Tatsumi asked suddenly, being desperate to have a reunion with his friends. Call it impatience or concern, but he would wait no longer, not even until they got to the interrogation room. He had to know now; he had spent every waking moment worrying about his childhood friends.

Akame exhaled deeply, the faintest shadow of a frown creasing her brows. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that Ieyasu was now with Night Raid, but she caught herself. To speak now would be her chance to convince Tatsumi to align with the Revolutionary Army, but at a risk of endangering both of them. The Imperial officers were trained to respond. Even as their leader, Tatsumi could be executed on the spot for a suspected rebellion. In her current state, Akame was not convinced that she could fend off the possible attacks should the situation arise. After all, it was only because of Tatsumi's order that the guards were on standby.

"Answer me!" Tatsumi demanded, clearly impatient. "You're a murderer, but I know you're capable of the human tongue."

'I can't afford to take chances.' Instead of replying, Akame's eyes drifted to the surroundings and she confirmed her next course of action. Looking at the tall trees and the green foliage brought a familiar tingle in her body.

She might not know the layout of the forest, but it did not change the fact that fighting on this particular terrain was one of her specialties.

Author's Notes: Chapter 12 is now concluded and reviews, feedback, and questions are welcome. Although I'm not too sure when I'll get to the next update, I will be keeping you informed of the story's status through my profile. I've recently added comments about my story progress there.

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Now, this section is dedicated to recapitulating the relevant plot events. Here are some things that can be reviewed over or considered for this chapter:

-The reason why Yukio and Zank remain undiscovered by the Imperial policemen is because of the backup that Seryu requested, added with the chaos that Bulat created.

-As of now, Sheele is no longer considered to be the wielder of Extase since leaving the weapon on the battlefield is classified as forsaking it.

-In the fight against Tatsumi, Akame notes that he is stronger than she anticipated. Indeed, he does have more brute strength in the current timeline due to the training Ogre gave him. Since Ogre himself is someone who relies on overwhelming power, we can expect him to teach Tatsumi the same thing. In other words, while Tatsumi is physically stronger, some of his other states (think of it in terms of leveling up in a game) are still the same as the original—namely his adaptability and speed, presumably because he never had Akame as his mentor to learn from.

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Preview-Kill Unification: Caught in a life-or-death situation, the members of Night Raid must gamble with the crushing low odds and high stakes. Decisions are made though one question hangs ominously over their heads; can they make the sacrifice for a friend? Next time, the bond that the assassins have will be tested.

Yukio: 'We're cornered. It's a gamble that we cannot avoid to lose.'

Bulat: "So we're betting everything on sheer luck,"

Mamoru: "Storm Cutter."

The feathers were swallowed by a cover of blackness…

Yukio: 'Come on, turn white. Don't fail me again! Please! I beg of you!'